sweden

As long as they are resonably stable we allow both breastfeeding and bottlefeeding while on CPAP. Breastfeeding is usually easier, since the baby can kontroll the flow and her/his own work better. It can be a problem having the right equipment that allows enough room to be close enough to the breast! Anna

1st European Conference on the Kangaroo Mother Care method 6-7 October 2008 Uppsala, Sweden Main topic: Why KMC in a high tech setting? Target group for the conferenceare persons involved in maternal and child health care, perinatal, neonatal, and pediatric care, and peer counsellors - irrespective of profession. Key note speakers: Nils Bergman, South Africa Nathalie Charpak, Colombia Melvin Konner and Susan Ludington, USA Kerstin Ulvnäs Moberg and Ann-Marie Widström, Sweden 7th International Workshop on Kangaroo Mother Mother Care 8-11 October 2008 Uppsala, Sweden Target group: Persons, involved in clinical work, education, administration or research - irrespective of profession. The number of participants is limited to 100 and will be distributed between countries to obtain optimal distribution. Workshop goals: To discuss obstacles to and possibilities for KMC in high tech settings as well as in settings with limited resources, and the revised WHO guidlines for KMC, currently under preparation. For program and further information see: www.akademikonferens.uu.se/KMCeurope08 email: kmceurope08@akademikonferens.uu.se

KMc is an important part of the care of premature and sick babies, something research has shown time and time again. The World Health Organization, WHO has given out a really good publication (titel: Kangaroo Mother Care, 2003) that gives more information,including evidence research and also the more practical aspect of the care. Our unit has come a long way but still have miles to go. This is the last area of pediatric care where parents place is not protected and we routinly separate babies from their family. KMC is one of the ways we can show the parents that they are important for their baby and that they can make a real difference. We use KMC on all babies, ventilator/umbilical lines/CPAP/<500 grams and so on. Some fall in the category (clearly outlined in unit rules) where we have to ask the doctors the first time, but after that it´s up to each nurse to encourage the parents. Each ICU patient pod/area have a hospital bed so that the parents can be comfortable for longer times and have the baby out for as long as they wish. Some do KMC for an hour at a time and some for 8-10 hours per day (mum and dad usually take turns). When the babies don´t need intensive care (ventilator or CPAP) the whole family can move into a private room with KMC 24/7. We have different types of shirts and devices so the parents can have baby on them and still have booth arms free. There is no a cutoff age/weight restrictions for this type of care. Premature babies born at 32+0 weeks are allowed to start their life (directly from delivery) with their parents, usually on dad (KMC) since mum often needs medical attention. Thoose babies never use an incubator (or bed) since all care is done with them on their parents chest. That includes bililights and other medical treatments. KMC is great but there are some circumstances where it´s not appropriate, at least not without extra regulations (mum/dad smokes, alcohol/drug abuse). God luck with your friends theseis, I hope you find the information you need. Anna RN, BSN

We start feedings within 2 hours of birth (unless patient is extremely unstable or a surgical case). Feedings are intermittent (every other hour), we hardly ever use any other way of giving food. All under 34 weeks get donated breastmilk until mum produces her own milk. Most ELBW have full feedings within 5-10 days.